IT departments struggling with the Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) trend have another tool in their arsenal. On Wednesday, Dell released its new cloud client managing solution, the software-as-a-service-based Wyse Cloud Client Manager.

The Cloud Client Manager provides a cloud-based management option for thin and zero clients, allowing IT departments to securely manage devices that are either company- or user-owned, without ongoing software installation, updates and maintenance. Austin, Texas-based Dell acquired the technologies used in the new offering in April when it purchased Wyse Technology, which sold cloud computing and desktop virtualization technologies.

Tarkan Maner, vice president and general manager of Cloud Client Computing at Dell, said in a statement that organizations "are increasingly seeing a shift from the 'one-size-fits-all' and 'corporate owned', 'corporate managed' computing approach, to a rapidly evolving 'BYOD' model."

Integration with PocketCloud

This has led to IT logistical and technical nightmares, but Maner said that his company's Cloud Client Manager helps reduce IT's burden by "providing a comprehensive overview of all devices, applications and content," as well as a granular approach.

Dell said its new offering provides several key capabilities. It enables cloud-based, remote configuration and management of thin and zero clients either on or off-premise, with extensive over-the-air mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

Administrators also have the ability to enable remote desktop and content management between mobile devices and desktops/laptops via integration with Dell Wyse PocketCloud software. This allows users to manage the content on their office or home computers from a smartphone or tablet.

The Client Manager also lets IT define end user rights and permissions through individual or group membership, which employees can manage via a self-service portal. Employees can register their own devices in order to gain access to company resources, see which of their devices are registered, and view applicable policies about their use. Workers can also reset their own system passwords, and, if a registered device is lost or stolen, can locate, lock or wipe the device themselves.

Free Starter Version

With so many devices for each employee, IT can also use Client Manager to generate registration, usage information, and other detail activity at various levels, such as for a department or for an individual.

Charles King, an analyst with industry research firm Pund-IT, said that Dell's new solution "leverages Wyse's considerable experience in thin and zero clients but extends that management model to support a host of other endpoints," such as Android and iOS devices.

He pointed out that, while employees can sign on to their company's portal remotely to access documents and other materials, that data does not automatically remain on the handset after the work session ends. This means, King said, that workers can use whatever smartphone, PC, laptop or thin/zero client they like and their employers can rest easy knowing that a lost or stolen machine won't expose private or proprietary information."

A starter version of Cloud Client Manager with essential functionalities is available for free, while a more advanced professional version requires a paid subscription.